Apparatus for forming cementitious bodies



R. WAGGO NER APPARATUS FOR FORMING CEMENTITIOUS BODIES Filed Oct. 27, 1928 Z Z J I f LFIL W 3. ll, o O m M Q l m U Q 0. Q a O I. I |.ll O |l I! v 7 m 0" U w 4 m 0 5 /H/ a z I I n 7 zz a .0 4 o i .0 [J O 0 4, a 0 1 MNWLT Huh f Patented Oct. 27, 1 931 PATENT; OFFICE UNITED", STATES RALPH WAGGONER, OF LQS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSEGNOR TO MARBELITE COR- PORATION OF AMERICA, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF DELA- 'WABE APPARATUS FOR FORMING CEMENTITIOUS BODIES Application filed October 27, 1928. Serial No. 315,400.

for the formation of irregularly shaped bodiesfrom cementitious materials.

An object of this invention is to provide a process or method of forming irregularly shaped bodies of cementitious materials. Another object is to provide a method whereby a dense and homogeneousstructure may be imparted to irregularly shaped molded bod-' ies. 7

Another objectis toprovide an apparatus adapted to compact irregular. molded bodies. In the manufacture of irregularly shaped bodies from cementitious and plastic mate-' rials such, as, for example, concrete or hydraulic cement compositions great difiicult-y has been experienced in insuring homogeneous distribution of the plastic cementitious material within the mold in which the irregularly shaped body is being cast or molded For example, in the'manufacture of concrete street lightingcaps or armswhich are laterrattached to suitable shafts or posts there has ,beena great deal of difliculty experienced in compacting the cementitious material within the mold so as toinsure complete filling thereof by the cementitious material, in order to obviate the formation of rock pockets, air pockets and other'imperfactions, Very often it is impossible or im practical to fill irregularly shaped molds of the character described, from a centrally disposed opening or from an opening at the highest or uppermost extremity of the mold.

This invention relates to amethod of filling such irregularly shaped molds and to a meth- 0d of formingcementitious bodies in irregular shapes whereby air holes, rock pockets and other imperfections are substantially eliminated and a dense product of smooth texture and surface made. The invention also relates to a specific form of apparatus adapted to carry out the objects of. this invent-ion.

Reference shall be made to the appended drawings in which Figurel schematically illustrates one form of irregularly shaped mold or 'cementitious object which may be used or manufactured by this invention.

FigureQ is a plan view of one form of apparatus adapted to carry out the purposes of this invention. i V

Figure 3 is a side elevation of. the apparatus. i

For purposes of illustration my invention will be described in detail as pertaining to the manufacture of street lighting standards and particularly caps or arms therefor, such as the one form of cap or arm as illustrated in Figure 1. The application of this method of manufacture for the purpose of making saidlamp arm will be'describ ed in detail.

Figure 1 showsfla two-lamp arm or capping member made of hydraulic cement composition. Centrally disposed is a junction box 1 having openings '2 and 3 through which wiring and connections may be placed within the junction box. Combined reinforcing members and conduits 4 are operatively connected with the junction box 1 and extend from said box at any desired angle. The upper ends of said combined reinforcing members and conduits are operatively connected with bodies or sockets 5. Suitable lamp bases,-connections and the like are placed upon said bodies 5 whenthe arm is attached to a shaft. The conduits 4 and the junction boxes 1 and 5 are held within a suitable mold 6.

It will. be understood that any suitable mold made of metal, wood, or other approved material may be used in casting or molding arm shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, these molds may be made in a number of sections so as to readily enable the mold to be removed from the finishedproduct, although this detailed structure is not shown on drawings.

Numerous angles, curves and configura- 9 irregular shapes such as that offered by the which is adapted to fit into a depression in the top of the shaft or column supporting the arm while the various curves and angles such as 8 are merely for purposes of adornment.

In practice it has been found that the mold 6 is preferably turned upside down, that is, the opening 3 is uppermost and the mold is then filled with cementitious material through the opening therein between the steps 7 and centrally disposed opening 3 of the junction box. It may be desirable to form openings through the normally lower portions of the junction box 1 as indicated at 9, temporarily plug or close the openings of conduits 4 into said junction box, and place a certain quantity of the plastic cementitious material within said junction box. The purpose of this excess cementitious material will become apparent from a later description of the process. 7 7

It will be apparent that in order to fill the entire mold 6 with cementitious material such material must be relatively plastic and in practice, excess quantities of mixing water are used (when Portlandcement is the comenting material) so as to insure a free flowing mixture capable of reaching the furtherniost corners of the mold. There is di'r'liculty encountered, however, in filling corners such 10 and various attempts have been made to cause the cementitious material to flow into said corners by vibrating or -arrin the mold.

Vibration and jarring are unsatisfactory, however,.in that the sand or rock used in a cement mixture has a tendency to segregate from the Portland cement soup thereby resulting in a heterogeneous casting of non-uniform'strength and composition. This is particularly objectionable when colored aggregate is used as a non-uniform distribution of the aggregate is the result.

vBy means of my invention all of the difficulties encountered heretofore are obviated in a simple and inexpensive manner. The mold 6 containing the junction boxes 1 and 5 and combined conduits and reinforcing members 4': or the like and filled with plastic cementitious material as described, is then placed in an inverted position with opening 3 uppermost, onto a spinning table such as is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and the entire mold rapidly rotated upon an axis passing through the junction box 1. In this manner all portions of the mold are filled and the cementitious material driven into the furthermost corners of the mold by centrifugal force This movement compacts the cementitious material and excess water will be found to collect in the central and upper portions of the mold, that is, near the juncti onbox 1 and upon the surface of the plastic material between the steps or recess portions 7'. In order to prevent the formation of voids in this centrally disposed porallow the tion of the mold, and insure a complete filling of the mold near said junction box 1, excess plastic composition may be placed within the junction box 1 and during spinning or rotation of the mold such excess plastic material will be found to have been forced from the junction box 1 through apertures 9 into the now empty or merely liquid filled section of the mold. After spinning for the required or desired length of time the operation is stopped .and the molds re moved from the spinning table and allowed to set or dry before the molds are removed from the finished molded body.

The spinning machine, or the simplest modification thereof shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a rectangular bed plate made of longitudinal members 11 and transverse members 12 upon which there is supported at one end a power generating means such as a motor 13. At or near the other end of the bed vertical members 14 may be provided with suitable transverse members 15 and braces 16 so as to form a rigid support. The transverse members 15 and transverse base members 12 support suitable pillow blocks 17 in vertical alignment through which a shaft 18 is journaled. A pulley 19 may be mounted upon the shaft 18 between the pillow blocks 17 and a circular table 20 is operatively connected to the upper end of the shaft 18. The table 20 may be further sup-ported by means of suitable thrust bearlugs 21 positioned between the table 19 andthe upper pillow block 17.

Upon the table 20 there may be suitably mounted a cage 22 which may take the form of a substantially cylindrical vertical member attached to the table 20 by means of a flange and bolts 2.3. Extending downwardly from the upper edge of the cage 22 there may be formed diametrically opposed longitudinal vertical openings 24 adapted to receive an irregular mold in which the cementitious material is to be cast. The upper edge of the cage 22 may be provided with an exteriorly extending flange 25 provided with lugs 26 to which locking means, such as a bar, may be connected by the bolts 27.

In Figure 3 the locking bar is shown consisting of a member 28 which may be pivotally connected to the flanges 26 on one side b means of the bolts 27 and adapted to be locked in contact with the opposed flanges 26 by a pin or bolt 27. Centrally of the vertical opening 21 made in the cage 22 the bar 28 may be provided with a screw 29 mounted therein and extending downwardly towards the table 20. The screw 29 may be provided with a suit.- able handwheel head or with a bolt head, so that when a mold such as the mold 6 is placed within the cage in inverted position so as to arms of the mold to extend through the apertures 24 while the central portion in which the junction box is positioned is centially circular cage provided with diametri" trally of the cage and substantially directly over the shaft 18, the opening or conduit 3 being directed upwardly, the screw 29 may be manipulated in the locking bar 28 so as to contact with the mold and retain the same in position.

It will be seen from the hereinabove description that a simple mechanism has been provided adapted to receive variously shaped irregular molds in which cementitious materials are to be formed and passed, and a method has been provided whereby all portions of a mold may be filled with a hydraulic cementitious material and compacted therein so as to form a homogeneous and a dense structure. Various changes and modifications may be made in the method and in the apparatus described without departing from the spirit of this invention, and all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the following claims are embraced herein.

I claim:

1. A machine forcompacting hydraulic cementitious compositions in irregular shaped branching molds comprising a base, a vertically extending frame positioned on said base, a rotatable shaft vertically mounted on said base and frame, a table mounted upon the upper end of said shaft, a cage mounted upon the table, diametrically opposed openings in said cage adapted to receive a mold and means cooperating with said cage for retaining said mold in position upon said table with the high portion of the mold substantially in the center of the table.

2. A machine for compacting hydraulic cementitious compositions in irregular shaped molds, comprising a base member, a

vertically extending frame positioned on the base, pillow blocks mounted on said base and frame and adapted to receive a vertical shaft,

a shaft journaled in said pillow'blocks, a table mounted on the upper end of said shaft,

thrust bearings between said table and the pillow block, a vertically extending substancally opposed vertical openings therein mounted on said table, said vertical openings terminating short of said table and being adapted to receive a mold and means cooperating with said cage for looking a mold within said cage.

3. A machine for compacting hydraulic cementitious compositions in irregular shaped molds comprising in combination a base, a vertically extending frame positioned on said base and end thereof, pillow blocks mounted in alignment on said base and frame and adapted to receive a vertical shaft, a shaft j ournaled in said pillow blocks, a table mounted on the upper end of said shaft, thrust bearings between said table and a pillow block, means for rotating said shaft and table, a vertically extending substantially circular cage provided with diametrically opposed vertical openings therein mounted on said table, such vertical openings terminating short of said table'and being adapted to receive a mold therethrough and means cooperating with said cage adapted to lock a mold therewithin.

4. A machine for compacting hydraulic cementitious compositions in irregularly shaped moulds, comprising a frame, a vert1- cally positioned rotatable shaft journaled in said frame, a circular table mounted on said shaft, means carried by said frame for rotating said shaft and table, a cage mounted on said table, diametrically opposed openings in said cage terminating short of said table H and adapted to receive and support outwardly extending branches of a mould placed within said cage, and means cooperating with said cage for locking a mould in position within said ca e.

' Signed at os Angeles, California, this 17th day of Oct., 1928.

RALPH WAGGONER. 

